Surgical splint



R..D. MADDOX.

SURGICAL SPLINT. APPLICATION FILED 020.5.1919.

Pateilted Jan. 25,1921.

UNITED STATES ROBERT D. MADDOX, OF THE UNITED STATESARMY.

SURGICAL SPLINT.

resents.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

-Application filed December 5, 1919. Serial No. 342,810.

(FILED UNDER THE ACT OF IJIARCH 3, 1883, 22 STAT. L, 625.)

This invention relates to improvement insurgical appliances designed to temporarily support a 'lractured limb, either the arm or leg, to hold the same stretched or distended, more particularly until the patient can be conveyed to a hospital, and has for one of its objects to improve the construction and increase the efliciency and utility or" devices 01"" this character. 4

Another object of this invention is to provide; a device or this character which may be readily adapted without structural change to the right patient.

lVith these and other objects in view the invention consists in'certain novel features ot'construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims; and in the drawings illustra tiveof the preferred embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is a perspective view or the improved device arranged for application to a fractured arm.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, and

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the improved device, arranged for the right arm of the patient.

Fig. 41 is a View similar to Fig. 3, showing the device arranged for the left arm of the patient.

or left limb of the Fig. 5 is a detail, partly in section, illustrating the construction of the reversing and adjusting portion of the device.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the improved device adapted to a broken leg.

When constructed to support a fractured arm the improved device includes a loop member 10 having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, the vertical portion be ing provided with a covering or pad indicated at 11.

The padded portion of the loop forms a crutch head to pass beneath the arm pit while the horizontal portion passes around the upper arm at the shoulder.

The loop member is preferably formed initially of an endless hoop or ring bent intermediate the sides so thatthe vertical and horizontal portions are disposed at right angles to each other, as shown.

When adapted for a fractured arm a standard or red 12 depends from the padded or vertical portiono'l the loop while a similar rod 18 depends from the horizontal portion of the loop, the standards terminating respectively in sockets 141 and 15.

W hen adapted for supporting a fractured leg the loop member will be continuous and arranged obliquely to the perpendicular and padded over its entire length, with the rods 1 and 13 dependingrespectively from the highest and lowest sides, as shown in Fig. 6.

The upper portion of the standard 13 is curved outwardly, as shown at 16, so that the sockets 141 and 15 are spaced at a greater 180 distance than the depth of the horizontal portion of the loop, the object to be hereafter explained.

When employed as an arm support the lower portion of the improved" device is formed from a single rod bent intermediate the ends substantially into U shape whereby spaced outer portions 17 and 18 are produced with an inwardly directed bend or socket 19 at their outer ends. At their inner ends the portions 1? and 18 are up turned as shown at 20 and 21 with downwardly dire'ctedloop's 22 and 23 at the juncture of the portions 17 and 20 and 18 and 21. The loop 22 is formed with a central socket 241:, while the loop 23 is provided with a corresponding socket 25. The sockets 19, 24 and 25 are designed to receive straining straps and prevent them from slipping.

The upper free ends of the portions 20 and 21 are received in the sockets 14; and 15, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, and secured adjustably therein by any suitable means, such as set screws illustrated at 26 and 27. The upper arm of the patient is received between the vertical portions 12 and 13 and 20 and 21, the forearm, wrist and hand of the patient received between the portions 17 and 18, and the elbow received between the loops 22 and 23, with V the right arm, and if-the left arm be in;

the portions 12 and 20 next to the body; By providing the'portions 12 and 13 with the sockets 14: and 15,.the upper portion including the crutch loop or the thigh loop, as the case maybe, may be reversed in position so that the crutch portion may be adapted for the right or left arm, or the thigh loop adapted for the right or left leg, as required.

For instance, if the right arm is injured, the crutch portion will be arranged as shown in Fig. l, to bear beneath the arm pit of jured, the crutch member'will be reversed in position,'as will be obvious, and the thigh loop will be reversed in the same manner, as will be obvious.

The loops 22 and 23 are adapted to receive straining strapsto hold the device in position on the arm, or to enable longitudinal strain to be applied to the upper arm, while the loop and socket 19 enable straining strapsto be applied to the forearm when the latter is injured.

The lower portion of the device is adjustable vertically by means of the sockets 14: and 15 to adapt the device to arms of varying lengths, while the loops 22 and 23 also enable bandages or straps to be applied'to the elbow, when required, without interference from the adjacent portions of the devlce.

Initially the portions 20 and 21 of the device will be distended at their upper or free ends so that inwardly directed force will be required to enter them into the sockets l4 and 15, as illustrated in Fig. 5, to provide 7 sufficient friction to prevent the lower po tion from dropping out when released and while being adjusted prior to applying the set'screws.

This is an important feature and matc rially increases the eiiiciency and utility of the device. V

'The pad 11 may be of any suitable material and of any suitable size.

The improved device as illustrated provides effectual means for temporarily applying longitudinal strain to hold fractured parts in position until the patientcan be transferred to a permanent hospital.

the loop 19. When the pulling force is to be applied to both the upper arm and tore arm both loops will be utilized to receive the pulling straps. The various parts of the device will be united by brazing or welding so that they are practically integral.

Having-thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l; A surgical splint comprising a reversible limb engaging loop adapted to engage a right or leitlimb, standards depending from said loop, a limb supporting device including cooperating standards, one set oi? said standards having sockets at their free ends to receive the free ends of the other standards, whereby the loop may be reversely associated with the limb supporting device. 7

2. A surgical splint comprising a loop device including a verticallydirected crutch head portion and a horizontally directed arm engaging portion, standards depending respectively from said crutch portions and arm engaging portions, a lower arm support including vertical standards, and means for reversibly and adjustably coupling said standards. I

3. A surgical splint comprising a, limb engaging loop, standards in spaced relation depending from said loop, a limb supporting portion including standards in spaced relation and initially distended at their free 

